Proceedings of the Standing Committee on
Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Issue 3 - Minutes of Proceedings - October 27, 2011
OTTAWA, Thursday, October 27, 2011
(6)
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met this day, at 8:32 a.m., in camera, the chair, the Honourable David Tkachuk, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Campbell, Carignan, Comeau, Cordy, Di Nino, Downe, Furey, Kinsella, Marshall, Munson, Poulin, Smith (Saurel), Stewart Olsen, Stratton and Tkachuk (15).
In attendance: Mr. Gary W. O'Brien, Clerk of the Senate and other senior Senate officials.
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Joyal, P.C. (1)
At 9:45 a.m., the committee proceeded in public.
IE/2011-10-27/055(P) — Adoption of Minutes of Proceedings
It was moved by Senator Di Nino that the minutes of Proceedings of October 20, 2011, public portion, be adopted.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
IE/2011-10-27/056(P) — Fourth Report of the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets and International Travel
The Chair of the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets and International Travel presented the fourth report of the subcommittee as follows:
Thursday, October 27, 2011
The Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets and International Travel of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
FOURTH REPORT
Your subcommittee recommends the release of the following amounts for fiscal year 2011-2012:
Agriculture and Forestry (Agriculture Sector)
Professional and Other Services $ 8,000 Transportation and Communications $212,075 All Other Expenditures $ 12,480 Total $232,555
(includes funds for fact-finding missions)
Banking, Trade and Commerce (Legislation)
Professional and Other Services $ 0 Transportation and Communications $ 0 All Other Expenditures $7,300 Total $7,300 Conflict of Interest for Senators
Professional and Other Services $50,000 Transportation and Communications $ 0 All Other Expenditures $ 0 Total $50,000
(includes funds for sole source for professional services)
Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources
(Energy Sector)
Professional and Other Services $ 44,100 Transportation and Communications $421,306 All Other Expenditures $ 25,875 Total $491,281
(includes funds for public hearings and fact-finding missions)
Fisheries and Oceans (Policy Framework)
Professional and Other Services $ 6,000 Transportation and Communications $106,924 All Other Expenditures $ 42,200 Total $155,124
(includes funds for public hearings, fact-finding missions, as well as approval for sole source for charter flights)
Foreign Affairs and International Trade (Brazil)
Professional and Other Services $ 15,400 Transportation and Communications $253,880 All Other Expenditures $ 8,810 Total $278,090 (includes funds for a fact-finding mission)
Notwithstanding the Financial Regulations and Guidelines Regarding Senate Committees adopted on May 1, 1990, your subcommittee recommends that business class air travel be approved for the staff travelling with the committee on this fact-finding mission to Brazil.
Human Rights (Human Rights Obligations)
Professional and Other Services $ 6,000 Transportation and Communications $200,410 All Other Expenditures $ 13,235 Total $219,645
(includes funds for a fact-finding mission)
Legal and Constitutional Affairs (Legislation)
Professional and Other Services $42,500 Transportation and Communications $ 0 All Other Expenditures $ 7,000 Total $49,500 National Finance (Cross Border Shopping)
Professional and Other Services $16,100 Transportation and Communications $32,354 All Other Expenditures $ 1,250 Total $49,704
(includes funds for a fact-finding mission)
National Security and Defence (National Security and Defence Policies)
Professional and Other Services $ 37,000 Transportation and Communications $ 96,318 All Other Expenditures $ 4,000 Total $137,318
(includes funds for fact-finding missions)
National Security and Defence (Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs)
Professional and Other Services $ 1,800 Transportation and Communications $35,654 All Other Expenditures $ 3,200 Total $40,654
(includes funds for fact-finding missions)
Scrutiny of Regulations (Joint)
Professional and Other Services $1,200 Transportation and Communications $3,600 All Other Expenditures $2,250 Total $7,050 Transport and Communications (Airline Industry)
Professional and Other Services $ 0 Transportation and Communications $106,134 All Other Expenditures $ 3,500 Total $109,634
(includes funds for fact-finding missions)
Your subcommittee notes that a number of committees have indicated in their budget applications sole source for professional services. However, unless a specific exemption is indicated above, the amounts requested fall below the threshold set by the Senate Procurement Policy which would require approval of the Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
Given that the Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration decided to cap the amount for committee travel at $1.25 million dollars for fiscal year 2011-2012, your subcommittee recommends that no funding be approved for conferences in committee budgets. This limitation is in keeping with the decision of the Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration on May 6, 2010 for fiscal year 2010-2011 when budget caps on committee travel were also in place. Excluding conferences from committee budgets maximizes the funding available for public hearings and fact-finding missions. However, as per the decision of the Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration of April 5, 2001, Senators may continue to use their travel points to attend conferences.
Your subcommittee wishes to recognize the efforts of committees to reduce expenditures. Since airline fares are such a large part of committee travel budget applications, it wishes to acknowledge those committees that have agreed to travel on economy fare tickets, even though the Senate Administrative Rules permit business class travel for senators. Your subcommittee would like to encourage all committees to give serious consideration to travelling economy fare, especially for shorter flights.
Respectfully submitted,
GÉRALD J. COMEAU
Chair
It was moved by Senator Comeau that the Fourth Report of the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets and International Travel be adopted.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was — Resolved in the affirmative.
IE/2011-10-27/057(P) — Canada Council Art Bank
It was agreed that this item be deferred to the next meeting.
IE/2011-10-27/058(P) — 2011 Annual Report on Parliamentary Associations' Activities and Expenditures
It was agreed that this item be deferred to the next meeting.
IE/2011-10-27/059(P) — Senator Munson: Report on International Travel
It was agreed that this item be deferred to the next meeting.
At 10:15 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Gary W. O'Brien
Clerk of the Senate and Clerk of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Lucie Lavoie
Recording Secretary